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Rural Funds Group has instructed its lawyers Clayton Utz to start legal action against Bonitas after a Ernst &amp; Young report found the disruptive short-seller's assertions on the publicly listed accounts weren't substantiated.
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On 6 August 2019, <a href="/news/rural-funds-group-under-attack-from-bonitas-research-short-selling-hit">Bonitas Research LLC released a document about the financial position of the Rural Funds Group</a>.
 Rural Funds Management, as responsible entity for RFF, released a response on August 7 rejecting the claims.
RFM engaged Clayton Utz to instruct an expert to independently investigate the matters raised.
RFM has instructed Clayton Utz to now commence action against Bonitas Research LLC for its deliberate and malicious publication of the document, "which RFM contends constitutes misleading and deceptive conduct in Australia in respect of RFF securities."
Meanwhile the rural company has told shareholders it has <a href="/news/rural-funds-group-shares-jump-after-earlier-attack-from-bonitas-research">secured the lease of its Rewan property to Australian Agricultural Company</a>.
The lease of Rewan to AAC is expected to commence 1 October 2019.
Rewan was previously leased by Cattle JV Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of RFM. 
It also advised Cygnet, a 60 ha property located near Bundaberg in central Queensland, is expected to settle in November 2019.
RFM will initiate the development of a 40 ha macadamia orchard with a third party lessee being sought.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Rural Funds Group to sue short-seller Bonitas Research

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WA-based funds management company, Mair Property Funds, has sold the 7-Eleven service station in Canning Vale in an off-market transaction. 
The property, which is situated at 488 Ranford Road, was sold through Paul Davison and Jeff Klopper from Vend Property for $5.75 million. 
Mair Property Funds developed the site in 2016 and signed a 15-year lease with the international service station and convenience store chain.
Portfolio Manager for Mair Property Funds, Alex Lambert, said the results of the sale realised the development profit for investors in their commercial property trust, MPS Unit Trust 2. 
“Being a relatively new asset with a strong tenancy in place and a remaining lease term of over ten years, we identified a key opportunity to maximise the investment value of the property through its sale in a low yielding environment.”
The MPS Unit Trust 2 also owns other assets including Beldon Shopping Centre, which underwent a full refurbishment in 2016 after signing a 20-year lease to national retailer, Woolworths. 
“Since its refurbishment in 2016, Beldon Shopping Centre has benefited considerably from increased foot traffic.
“We are now working actively with our property management division to identify further ways to maximise and enhance the property’s performance,” Mr Lambert said. 
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Canning Vale 7-Eleven service station sold for $5.75 million

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A childcare operator has secured two adjoining bayside allotments for redevelopment in a transaction worth $2.2 million.  
The Wynnum properties located at 238 and 242 Bay Terrace were sold by Robert Dunne and Tim Packman of Savills.  
It was offered to the market via an Expressions of Interest campaign.
With a combined site area of 1,918 sqm, the properties are improved with a single level church hall and an 180 sqm vacant four bedroom house. 
“There was a lot of interest on the offering from childcare operators as the improvements on site could be easily repurposed for this type of use,” Savills Director of Commercial Sales, Robert Dunne said.  
The buyer, Building Futures, are a multigenerational family owned business providing Early Childhood Education services. 
“Wynnum piqued our interest, as we felt that it was a good location and suitable for our development processes. I particularly loved the view from the Manse and the architecture of the church hall,” CEO of Building Futures, Vicki McKinnon said. 
Subject to design considerations, Building Futures plan to have 120 placements at their new Wynnum location, and anticipate the centre to be open in 2022.
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Savills sell two Wynnum bayside lots to family owned childcare business

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The Furqan Islamic Association of Western Australia Inc has snapped up a two-year lease with an option to buy in Perth’s Belmont.
The property at <a href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLe+ogmk3CjBYgeqD5dxG9NpLnRomYprx7cJ7tJAHec5NFcwVcSjsZROMiwJwnHUnvHopkZo5c9rrfgJHpQ0/6vRbCd9l5EpdtDqYVRlw/iBUmuBSqNAus2OQ==&amp;rh=ff0050508382e85fe0c7e8c3604f91db861394f7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">91 Robinson Avenue</a> comes sits on a 3,865 sqm parcel of land with 1,100 sqm of office/warehouse on the site.
It was leased at the market rate and came with an option to buy.
The property was marketed by Ray White Commercial (WA) Director Chris Matthews.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/26/2%205.JPG" alt="">
Mr Matthews said in a slower market, he was able to achieve a result because the property was under-developed and had a large amount of on-site parking.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/26/3%207.JPG" alt="">   “We listed the property back in January 2018 and were in discussions with the buyer for 17 months before the contract went unconditional."
"To secure the option to buy, the tenant was able to provide terms to show their upfront commitment and high likelihood of exercising their option to purchase the property within the next 12 to 24 months," he concluded. 
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Furqan Islamic Association secure office warehouse lease in Perth

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Between 1987 and 2015, the average real mortgage debt among older Australians (aged 55+ years) blew out by 600 per cent, according to new AHURI research.
Debt rose on average from $27,000 to over $185,000 in 2015, while their average mortgage debt to income ratios tripled from 71 to 211 per cent over the same period.
The research, <a href="http://icm-tracking.meltwater.com/link.php?DynEngagement=true&amp;H=5eXH0qSKdBRphS6WO4YlQwwSTi8wtQOqejFjZKiddbCzZ5Bbl4XDYQCWwbAwBqZ18LgCZBIb7Ta2Ris72KQtLUjhTZ0hAoyRqWksKLvDgQGF%2FheDfJf5RQl5rEECNjoziHOV36ncRpk%3D&amp;G=0&amp;R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ahuri.edu.au%2Fresearch%2Ffinal-reports%2F319&amp;I=20190826210314.00000732f17f%40mail6-43-usnbn1&amp;X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVkNWNkN2UyNjJkNTM3OTAwYzljNTU2ZDs%3D&amp;S=R75KvJmZUsaCszbwp8Ep3zYi24dIZMln-LMCKx88_CQ" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">Mortgage stress and precarious home ownership: implications for older Australians,</a> was undertaken for AHURI by researchers from Curtin University and RMIT University.
It investigates the growing numbers of older Australians who are carrying high levels of mortgage debt into retirement, and considers the significant consequences for their wellbeing and for the retirement incomes system.
"Our research finds that back in 1987 only 14 per cent of older Australian home owners were still paying off the mortgage on their home; that share doubled to 28 per cent in 2015’, says the report’s lead author, Professor Rachel ViforJ of Curtin University. "We’re also seeing these older Australians’ mortgage debt burden increase from 13 per cent of the value of the average home in the late 1980s to around 30 per cent in the late 1990’s when the property boom took off, and it has remained at that level ever since.
"Over that time period, average annual mortgage repayments have more than tripled from $5,000 to $17,000 in real terms." When older mortgagors experience difficulty in meeting mortgage payments, wellbeing declines and stress levels increase, according to the report.
Psychological surveys measuring mental health on a scale of 0 to 100 reveal that mortgage difficulties reduce mental health scores for older men by around 2 points and an even greater 3.7 points for older women.
Older female mortgagors’ mental health is more sensitive to personal circumstances than older male mortgagors.
Marital breakdown, ill health and poor labour market engagement all adversely affect older female mortgagors’ mental health scores more than men’s. "These mental health effects are comparable to those resulting from long-term health conditions," says Professor ViforJ.
"As growing numbers of older Australians carry mortgages into retirement the rising trend in mortgage indebtedness will have negative impacts on the wellbeing of an increasing percentage of the Australian population." High mortgage debts later in life also present significant challenges for housing assistance programs.
The combination of tenure change and demographic change is expected to increase the number of seniors aged 55 years and over eligible for Commonwealth Rent Assistance from 414,000 in 2016 to 664,000 in 2031, a 60 per cent increase.
As a consequence the real cost (at 2016) of CRA payments to the Federal budget is expected to soar from $972 million in 2016, to $1.55 billion in 2031.
The unmet demand for public housing from private renters aged 55+ years is also expected to climb from roughly 200,000 households in 2016, to 440,000 households in 2031, a 78 per cent increase. There are also challenges for Government retirement incomes policy.
The burden of indebtedness in later life is growing; longer working lives and the use of superannuation benefits to pay down mortgages are increasingly likely outcomes.
The full report can be <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/319%20" target="_blank">downloaded here</a>.
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Mortgage debt for older Australians soars 600 per cent and is impacting their mental health: AHURI

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Investors in the TV property guru Kevin McCloud’s eco-friendly housing ventures face losing nearly all their money.
Between 2013 and 2017, McCloud wooed investors with crowdfunding schemes that promised returns of up to nine per cent a year from his Happiness Architecture Beauty (HAB) homes businesses.
The UK Guardian reported - in an extraordinary parallel with his TV series participants – HAB has been hit by budget overruns, construction problems and relationship bust-ups.
McCloud, 60, has presented the Channel 4 series Grand Designs since its launch in 1999.
He set up HAB Housing in 2007 “to challenge the way identikit volume housing was built in the UK”.
Around 650 investors put in £1.9 million in 2013, which at the time was a crowdfunding world record.
Those investors are yet to receive a penny, however the investors who put money in to the project in 2017 are likely to be worse off.
As a worse case scenario, HAB have said those who put a total of £2.4million into one bond two years ago will lose between 74 per cent and 97 per cent.
A recent letter warns that HAB Land would be unable to continue to trade without a further injection of funds.
McCloud himself sent out a separate letter in July to the 2013 crowdfunding investors stating that “the numbers” were “serious”, adding: “HAB Housing currently owes just under £1.6 million to HAB Land.
He also faces demands for repayment from a restructuring company that has taken control of part of his business.
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Investors in Grand Designs' McCloud property projects face huge losses

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ASIC has banned Mr Ding (Tim) Yang, the director of Advanced Choice Finance Pty Ltd (ACF), a Melbourne-based mortgage brokering company, from engaging in credit activities for four years.
ASIC has also cancelled the Australian Credit Licence of ACF.
In July 2012, Mr Yang’s accreditation as an approved broker with the Bank of Melbourne was terminated, and in April 2016, Advanced Choice and Mr Yang’s membership with aggregator Connective OSN Pty Ltd, were terminated.
Mr Yang was required, in annual compliance certificates lodged with ASIC, to notify ASIC of those terminations.
ASIC found that Mr Yang had acted dishonestly in providing false answers to ASIC in the compliance certificates for ACF in January 2013 and again in January 2017.
As a result, ASIC found that Mr Yang was not a fit and proper person to engage in credit activities.
"Disclosures in our annual compliance certificates are an important mechanism by which ASIC is alerted to potential issues with licensees. Providing ASIC with false information prevents ASIC from properly administering the regulatory scheme for credit licensees.
"ASIC will look to remove anyone from the credit industry who acts dishonestly in discharging this obligation," said ASIC Commissioner Sean Hughes.
The cancellation of ACF’s credit licence was effective from 14 August 2019. Mr Yang’s banning is recorded on ASIC’s <a href="https://asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asics-registers/banned-and-disqualified/" target="_blank">Banned and Disqualified Persons Register</a>.
Mr Yang and ACF have the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC’s decision.
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ASIC bans Ding (Tim) Yang, Victorian mortgage broker and cancels credit licence of Advanced Choice Finance

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Embattled property valuation group Landmark White made its long-awaited return to the ASX, with its shares trading at 9 cents.
Its return follows being hit with <a href="/news/landmark-white-limited-reports-property-valuations-data-breach">two cyber-attacks earlier this year</a> when confidential home loan information was <a href="/news/landmark-white-shares-fall-10-percent-after-dark-web-data-revelation">posted illegally on the web</a>.
Yesterday the group's share price was down around 50 per cent to $0.09 per share from its prior trade. They've been trading at $0.10 over the morning session.
LandMark White shares previously traded at 18¢, before the company requested a trading halt on July 6 following its second privacy security breach.
The company had recently undertaken a <a href="/news/landmark-white-seek-to-rebuild-value-for-shareholders">$5.4 million capital raising</a> last month at 8¢.
The shares were trading at 34 cents at the beginning of 2019 and at 44 cents a year ago.
Acting chief executive Tim Rabbitt, who will stay for the foreseeable future, admits it had been often harrowing over the past seven months.
Landmark White forecasts it will reduce its annual loss from $15.1 million to $1.5 million. They said the data breach will <a href="/news/landmark-white-data-breach-to-cost-over-7-million">cost the company up to $7 million</a>.
The group, which values home loan applications for banks and independent lenders, was initially hit with a data security breach in late January, which led it to be suspended from the panels of the four major banks and smaller lenders.
LandMark White returned to trade on the ASX in May, but was hit again with further confidential information posted on the web.
It is not believed that the NSW Police has charged anyone.
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Landmark White shares fall to 9 cents on return to ASX

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Retired AFL key forward Jarrad Waite and his wife Jackie have listed their Strathmore house.
The former North Melbourne and Carlton star is seeking $1.35 to $1.46 million for their home of three years.
Situated at, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-strathmore-131702750">2 Head Street</a>, it’s set to go under the hammer August 31.
Last sold in 2016, the home transacted for $1.4 million.
To attain a profit this time around the property will need to sell on the high end of what they are seeking.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/26/Strathmore%20TT%202.JPG" alt="">
Alexkarbon director Charles Bongiovanni who is marketing the property said the couple had initially planned to level the three-bedroom house and build.
Their proposed new residence centered around a pool on its 655 square metre block.
But a change in circumstances instead led to them refurbishing the post-war home.
The Waites bought after selling their renovated Edwardian in Moonee Ponds for $1.48 million — almost $200,000 above reserve — in 2016.
The couple also offloaded a double-storey Strathmore investment property for $750,000 in April last year.
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Retired AFL forward Jarrad Waite lists in Strathmore

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The penthouse in the Kirra Wave building at Bilinga, Queensland is set to go under the auctioneer's gavel September 7th.
The tri-level penthouse enjoys uninterrupted coastal and hinterland views.
Ed Cherry of Sophie Carter Exclusive Properties is marketing the apartment.
Situated at 802/46-48 Pacific Parade, the abode consists of three bedrooms and four bathrooms with a separate wing for guests and family.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/26/Bilinga%20Trophy%20Home.JPG" alt="">
Set on 345 square metres, the home has its own rooftop terrace with Jacuzzi/plunge pool.
Built in 2008, the home features, multiple oceanside decks &amp; terraces, Blackbutt timber floorboards with 2.7 metre high ceilings plus two side by side car spaces in a security basement with storage cages.
Last sold in 2015 the apartment transacted for $1,452,000.
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Tri-level Bilinga penthouse set for auction

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

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What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

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Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

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After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

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Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

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Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

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ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

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For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

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Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

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Staff reporter

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